So many recipes are so much better with peeled fresh peaches. Whether it’s peach jam, ice cream or cheesecake, blanching them this is the easiest way to do it, so read on to learn to blanch and peel peaches with absolutely no fuss.
Surely everyone loves a fresh peach, and the flavour is so much better than the tinned version. What you don’t want in most recipes, however, is that fuzzy peach skin.
See also
- Small batch peach jam – a classic to use a few of your peeled peaches
- An easy pudding of roasted peaches in butterscotch sauce
- Peach gin is an easy infusion to make at home and enjoy all summer
- Pretty and pink, and delicious – try homemade peach and hibiscus gin
Peeling fresh peaches can be a pain, leaving you and your kitchen covered in escaped juice. It’s so much easier if you blanch them first, so follow my simple instructions for the easiest peeled peaches, fresh, delicious and ready for anything.
How to peel peaches, step by step
Before you start, read my step-by-step instructions, with photos, hints and tips so you can peel peaches perfectly every time.
Step One – Start by choosing your largest saucepan. Half fill with water and bring the water to the boil. While the water comes up to the boil, fill a bowl with cold water and ice cubes and set aside.
Step Two – Lower your peaches carefully into the water. If they float, keep nudging them with your slotted spoon, to ensure that all sides of the peach are submerged for a while. Continue for a minute.
Step Three – Use the slotted spoon to remove the peaches and transfer them to the ice bath. Leave them for about 2 minutes.
Step Four – Remove the peaches and pat the skins dry with a piece of kitchen paper.
Step Five – Cut a shallow cross into the skin at the bottom of the first peach. You should now be able to peel the skin back easily. Repeat until all your peaches are peeled.
Serving suggestion
Use your blanched peaches in smoothies, jam, chutney, fruit salads, compotes, cobblers and pies, peach ice cream and all sorts of desserts.
Storage
Use the peeled peaches immediately, or put them in the fridge for the next day.
Hints and tips
Work in small batches, replacing the ice in the ice bath as it melts. I find that I can chill and peel two peaches in the time it takes two more to blanch.
Blanching peaches is a job that is both sticky and slippery, so have some clean tea towels to hand to wipe your hands.
Without the peel and stone, the prepared peaches weigh about 15 % less than whole peaches. My four large peaches weighed about 600 g whole and yielded 500 g of prepared peach.
FAQs
You absolutely can and it means your peaches will be ready to use. Blanch and peel, then stone and slice your peaches for fruit that doesn’t take up too much space in the freezer.
You can microwave your peaches to loosen the skin but I think it’s messier and that you may end up with cooked peaches.
It may be that the peaches are very underripe. You should be able to peel peaches with this method even if they are not quite ripe.
Related recipes
- Peach jam is a delightful summery preserve
- Hot peaches in butterscotch sauce make an irresistible dessert
- Coconut rice pudding is delicious topped with sweet fruit
- Use your peaches to top an impressive chocolate pavlova.
- For the perfect cocktail, turn fresh peaches into fabulous peach gin.
How to Blanch and Peel Peaches
Ingredients
- 4 peaches
Instructions
- Start by choosing your largest saucepan. Half fill with water and bring the water to the boil. While the water comes up to the boil, fill a bowl with cold water and ice cubes and set aside.
- Lower your peaches carefully into the water. If they float, keep nudging them with your slotted spoon, to ensure that all sides of the peach are submerged for a while. Continue for a minute.
- Use the slotted spoon to remove the peaches and transfer them to the ice bath. Leave them for about 2 minutes.
- Remove the peaches and pat the skins dry with a piece of kitchen paper.
- Cut a shallow cross into the skin at the bottom of the first peach. You should now be able to peel the skin back easily. Repeat until all your peaches are peeled.
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